Ricky Burns says Miguel Vazquez is a quality opponent who will bring out the best in him when they fight to unify the lightweight division next month.

The 29-year-old WBO title holder from Coatbridge faces the Mexican IBF champion on Saturday, March 16 at Wembley Arena in London.

It will be Ricky’s first outing since September when he sensationally stopped Essex boy Kevin Mitchell inside four rounds.

And the two-weight world champ, with 35 victories from 37 fights as a professional, believes tough nut Vazquez will inspire him to another monster performance.

“I think he always keeps himself in good shape and is very disciplined,” Ricky said. “He is a bit like myself in that he has a good boxing brain. The fans will see a great fight.

“When he’s lost, they have been defeats to guys at the top of his weight division. But this fight will bring out the best in me.

“I’m not going to give too much away with regards the gameplan but I’m sure my trainer Billy [Nelson] will watch some of his fights and pick out things we should be working on.

“I don’t know what way I am going to fight him until I get into the ring. But I know I’ll be ready for it.

“I treat every fight the same. The better the guy in front of me, the better I am going to perform.

“I’m going to be up against someone who has proven himself in this division.”

Ricky had been due to fight before Christmas but injury and a bereavement saw two opponents stand down at the last minute.

It was a frustrating time for Ricky who was looking for the win that would have set-up a showdown with highly-rated American WBC champion Adrien Broner in a unification contest this month.

“I was gutted when the fight fell through but these things happen in boxing,” Ricky added. “But there were circumstances nobody could control. I took a couple of weeks off and that was when I was offered the Broner fight. But I’d trained for a full 12 weeks and my body needed a rest.

“I would have loved to have fought him but obviously the date wasn’t right. Vazquez has got my focus just now.”

A clash with Broner could happen in the summer. For now, Ricky is concentrating on the task at hand which includes silencing any remaining critics.

“I’m looking forward to proving the doubters wrong,” he insisted.

“Throughout my career I’ve always had doubters. When I fought Roman Martinez, I think it was only the people in my team who gave me a chance of winning.

“It was the same with Michael Katsidis. A lot of people thought he would be too strong for me as it was my first fight at lightweight.

“Even in my last fight with Mitchell, there were people who thought he’d go out and get the stoppage against me.

“But when people write me off, that’s when I know I will go out and perform at my best.”